Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
66 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
167,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 to 1994 model years. Data updated: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 66 complaints (13.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting
8
12.1%
Engine operation
3
4.5%
Braking behavior
1
1.5%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
9
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
7
Seat Belts
5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
3
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
3
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
3
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
9
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
7
Seat Belts
5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
3
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
3
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Seat Belts: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 4; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
2
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 62 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 844145 · 1999-08-03 (August 3, 1999)
TRANSMISSION LEAKS FLUID/ HORN HAS NO SOUND WHEN IT'S HIT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE MAKES GRINDING NOISE, LIKE METAL TO METAL. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES. NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT COULD BE CORRECTED.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
66 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
6.1%Usable mileage4 / 66 records
89.4%Valid incident date59 / 66 records
100.0%Valid filing date66 / 66 records
89.4%Ordered incident and filing dates59 / 66 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
215.4%ODI 484195
ENGINE HEADS CRACKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/OIL LEAKS. *SKD
THE NUT WORKED LOOSE OFF OF THE OIL PUMP GEAR. THE GEAR WALKED FOWARD,EATING THRUGH THE TIMING COVER,FINALLY WIPING OUT THE TIMING ASSEMBLY. FINAL RESULT - THE ENGINE LOST OIL PRESSURE AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN,CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE IN TRAFFIC.ENGINE WAS A LOSS. THIS ALL COULD OF BEEN AVOIDED IF A LOCK NUT WAS USED TO HOLD THE OIL PUMP GEAR IN PLACE. A 5 CENT NUT COST ME $3000.AND PLACED MY FAMILY IN DANGER. SAD,SAD,SAD!
WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT, OIL IN ENGINE SWINGS OVER TO LEFT IN OIL PAN; GETS SUCKS UP INTO TUBE THAT GOES TO FUEL INTAKE; STARTS SMOKING; CANNOT ACCCELERATE. TT
TL* - ON A COLD DAY WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE THE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN THE REVERSE GEAR. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR THE VEHICLE TO WARM UP, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR SOMETIME, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT HAS THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDY TRANSMISSION WHERE THEY WILL REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT FELTTHAT VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER NHTSA RECALLCAMPAIGN 94V052000.*AK
The contact owns a 1991 Subaru Loyale. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the automatic seat belt continuously opened and retracted independently, failing to secure the contact inside the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the automatic seat belt tightener system and observed an oil gasket leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 309,000.
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE HOOD FLEW OPEN, SAFETY LATCH WAS STUCK DUE TO CORROSION. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEMS STILL OCCURS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK INTO PLACE. BOTH DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *YC
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Too few reports for a range
135,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10177850 · 135,000 mi
TL* - ON A COLD DAY WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE THE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN THE REVERSE GEAR. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR THE VEHICLE TO WARM UP, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR SOMETIME, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT HAS THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDY TRANSMISSION WHERE THEY WILL REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT FELTTHAT VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER NHTSA RECALLCAMPAIGN 94V052000.*AK
The contact owns a 1991 Subaru Loyale. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the automatic seat belt continuously opened and retracted independently, failing to secure the contact inside the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the automatic seat belt tightener system and observed an oil gasket leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 309,000.
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1993: 6 complaints · 1994: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1993
2
4
6
1994
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
1993
12
1
0
1994
1
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b
Hard or delayed shifting
1 mentions · 1.5% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 835776
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKS AND VIBRATES. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD A LEAKAGE. CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
The contact owns a 1991 Subaru Loyale. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the automatic seat belt continuously opened and retracted independently, failing to secure the contact inside the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the automatic seat belt tightener system and observed an oil gasket leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 309,000.